Smoking pipe



April 1968 s. P. CHERNOCK SMOKING PIPE Filed June 28. 1965 INVENTOR.

STEPHEN F. BHERNDBK ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,378,016 SMOKING PIPE Stephen P. Chernock, 1553 Boston Post Road, lVIilford, Conn. 06460 Filed June 28, 1965, Ser. No. 467,402 4 Claims. (Cl. 131225) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A smoking pipe having a vertically extending combination bowl comprising a lower bowl base of metal and an upper bowl body of briar root or the like connected together by a screw threaded connection through which the bowl body and the bowl base may be separated by relative turning about the vertical axis of the bowl, and a horizontally extending tubular metal stern having a forward stud end portion secured in a radial passage in the peripheral wall of the bowl base, the stem extending radially from the bowl base and being buttressed against lateral bending strains applied to the stem by means of vertically disposed abutment surfaces on the bowl base and the stem disposed laterally at diametrically opposite sides of the rearward end portion of the radial passage of the bowl base engaged by the forward stud end portion of the stem, the stem being further buttressed against rotation about its axis by horizontally disposed abutment surfaces on the bowl base and the stem which give the interengaging surfaces of the stem and the bowl base a noncircular or eccentric shape relatively to the axis of the stem.

The present invention relates to a smoking pipe, particularly of the type having a combination bowl comprising a lower bowl base part of metal and an upper bowl body part of briar root or the like screwed or otherwise secured within the bowl base, and wherein a metal stem is connected to the bowl base part. In pipes of this type the metal parts are preferably formed of light-weight metal, for example aluminum, and as such metal is relatively soft it has been difficult to obtain a connection between the bowl base and stem of sufficient rigidity to prevent loosening or distortion of the connection as a result of twisting strains imposed upon the bowl base and the stem. Such strains usually occur when removing the bowl body from the bowl base, it being pointed out that the threaded connection between the dissimilar materials of the bowl base and the bowl body tends to freeze or tighten when the pipe becomes heated. Thus, when the pipe smoker attempts to unscrew the bowl body by grasping the pipe stem in one hand and the bowl body in the other, a considerable twisting or bending strain may be exerted upon the connection between the pipe stem and the bowl base with consequent distortion and loosening.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a smoking pipe having an improved construction for connecting the bowl base and stem wherein the parts are ettectually buttressed against distortion or looseness as a result of twisting or bending strains imposed between the bowl and the stem, as well as rotational strains imposed upon the stem about its longitudinal axis.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the invention is shown. However, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

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In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation showing a smoking pipe according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view;

FIG. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view, partially in top plan and partially in horizontal section, taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the bowl base and stem parts shown in separated relation;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of a smoking pipe according to a modified form of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. l6 thereof, the smoking pipe according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated therein comprises a vertically extending bowl consisting of a bowl base 10 preferably formed of suitable metal, for example aluminum, and a bowl body 11 preferably formed of briar root and having a tobacco receiving opening or cavity 12 provided with a plurality of smoke passages 13 in its lower end. The base is of generally cup-shaped cylindrical form and is provided at its upper open end with internal screw threads 14 for receiving the externally threaded reduced diameter lower shank portion 15 of the bowl body. An annular shoulder 16 is disposed inwardly of the internal threads 14 in surrounding relation to the upper end of a cylindrical pocket or well 17 defined by the peripheral cylindrical wall of the bowl base and which is in smoke conducting communication through the smoke passages 13 with the cavity 12 of the bowl body.

The horizontally extending stem 19 is also preferably of metal, for example extruded aluminum, and is in the form of a cylindrical tube provided lengthwise of its intermediate portion with a pair of relatively long narrow horizontal flanges 20-20, of rectangular plan outline and each being of corresponding length, width, and thickness and respectively integrally connected to and projecting radially in a horizontal plane from diametrically opposite sides of the intermediate portion of the stem. In addition to providing heat-radiating fins to dissipate heat from the stem, the flanges 26 provide a longitudinally stiffened stem shape which may be conveniently and economically produced by extrusion. The flanged shape also provides a stern of attractive appearance and one which may be comfortably and firmly grasped by the pipe smoker.

The forward and rearward terminal ends of the flanges 20 coincide with vertical planes normal to the axis of the stem and constitute vertically disposed planar abutment surfaces at the ends of the fianges projecting radially from diametrically opposite sides of the stem, and which are spaced from the forward and rearward ends of the stem to provide the stem with a forward cylindrical shank portion 21 for insertion in the bowl base and a rearward cylindrical plug portion 22 for insertion in the bit or mouthpiece, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

For the purpose of rigid assembly of the stem and bowl base the latter is provided with a radial cylindrical passage 23 extending through its peripheral wall opening at its forward end to the well 17 and at its readward end to the external vertically extending cylindrical surface of the peripheral wall. At diametrically opposite sides of the rearward end portion of passage 23 notches 24-24 are provided in the peripheral wall of the bowl base 10. These notches may be conveniently produced by a kerf cut in a l 3 i horizontal plane diametrically spanning and extending laterally from diametrically opposite sides of the rearward end portion of the passage 23. The bases of the notches 24 coincide with a vertical plane normal to the axis of the passage 23 and constitute vertically disposed planar abutment surfaces extending laterally from opposite sides of the rearward end portion of the passage 23 for abutting engagement by the forward vertically disposed planar end surfaces of the flanges 20. The lateral dimension of the notches substantially corresponds to the width of the flanges 20, while their vertical dimension corresponds to the thickness of the flanges 20, so that the upper and lower sides of the notches constitute vertically spaced horizontal planar abutment surfaces for engagement by longitudinal planar abutment surfaces of the stem provided by the horizontal upper and lower surfaces of the forward end portions of the flanges 29. The diameter of the passage 23 is such as to receive the shank portion 21 of the stem with a snug sliding fit while at the same time the forward end portions of the flanges 20 are engaged with a snug fit in the notches 24 with their forward vertical planar terminal end surfaces in firm engagement with the vertical planar abutment surfaces provided by the bases of the notches 24 at diametrically opposite sides of the rearward end portion of the passage 23, to thus buttress the stem against loosening through lateral bending forces applied thereto through gripping the stem While turning the bowl about its vertical axis or when attempting to unscrew the upper bowl from the bowl base when the threaded connection between them is frozen. At the same time the upper and lower horizontal surfaces of the forward ends of the flanges are in firm engagement with the horizontal abutment surfaces provided by the upper and lower sides of the notches 24 at diametrically oposite sides of the rearward end portion of the passage 23 to thus buttress the stern against loosening through rotation about its axis, as when attempting to turn the stem or the bowl relatively to each other about the axis of the stem. The shank portion 21 is of a length to project at its forward end portion into the well 17 sufficiently to permit of its being flared outwardly at 25, as clearly shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, by insertion of a suitable swaging or flaring tool therein, and whereby the stem is rigidly secured to the bowl base against rearward axial disengaging force applied to the stem. By virtue of the interlocking engagement of the flanges 20 in the notches 24 of the bowl base the assembled parts are firmly buttressed against loosening through twisting bending or rotational force applied to either the bowl base or the stem.

Upon the rearward cylindrical plug portion 22 of the stern there is mounted a cylindrical tubular metal ferrule 26, for example an aluminum extrusion, having a cylindrical passage 27 therethrough for snug sliding engagement upon the plug portion 22 and having horizontal diametrically disposed notches 2828 in its forward end in which the rearward end portions of the flanges 20 of the stem are received to thus interlock the ferrule against relative rotary movement upon the stem. The ferrule is preferably fixed to the stem by clamping or compressing the notched portions upon the flanges with suflicient force to bind the ferrule to the stem. The plug portion 22 is of such length as to project outwardly beyond the ferrule, and the bit or mouthpiece 29 is engaged thereon with a snug frictional fit, being provided for this purpose with a cylindrical pocket 30 in its forward end in which the plug a portion is received, the bit having a smoke passage 31 extending from the pocket to its rearward end.

In FIGS. 7 and 8 there is shown a modified form of the invention in which the stem 32, preferably formed of metal, for example extruded aluminum, is of generally cylindrical shape and is provided at each of itsldiametrically opposed sides with a pair of vertically spaced parallel laterally extending flanges 33-433. Like the flanges 20 of the first embodiment, the flanges 33 are integrally connected to the stem, are of relatively long narrow rectangular plan outline, and their forward and rearward terminal ends coincide with vertical planes normal to the axis of the stem so that these terminal ends constitute vertically disposed planar abutment surfaces projecting laterally from diametrically opposite sides of the stem. An axial smoke passage 34 extends through the stem and in provided at its forward bowl-attaching end with an internally threaded pocket 35 in which is screwed the externally threaded cylindrical connector member 36 provided with a forwardly projecting cylindrical stud portion 31 and having a passage 38 therethrough in line with the passage 34. At the rearward end of the stem passage 34 there is provided a cylindrical pocket 39 in which the forward shank portion 40 of the bit or mouthpiece 41 is engaged with a sliding frictional fit.

The bowl base 10a is substantially similar to the bowl base 10 of the first embodiment and has a bowl body 11 screwed therein in a similar manner. The bowl base 10a is preferably of stepped form with an intermediate annular shoulder 42 delineating the lower reduced diameter portion, this shoulder preferably being aligned with the upper surfaces of the upper flanges 33 of the stem in the assembled relation, and providing horizontal planar abutment surfaces on the bowl extending laterally from diametrically opposite sides of the rearward end of the stem passage for engagement by the upper horizontal planar surfaces of t-he'upper' flanges 33 adjacent their forward terminal end surfaces in substantially corresponding manner to the engagement of the upper sides of the notches 24 of the first embodiment by the upper surfaces of the flanges 20 adjacent their forward terminal ends as will presently more fully appear. For the purpose of rigid assembly of the stem the bowl base is provided upon its lower reduced diameter portion with a planar surface 43 of a width substantially corresponding to the width of the stem and coincides with a vertical plane normal to the axis of the radial passage 23. The vertically dis posed planar surface 43 is substantially rectangular in outline with its horizontal upper and lower edges spaced above and below the rearward end of the passage 23 and with its vertical side edges spaced laterally from diametrically opposite sides of the rearward end of the passage 23. Intermediate the upper edge of the planar surface the shoulder 42 is concavely recessed at 44 to conform to and receive the end portion of the upper cylindrical surface of the stem.

The projecting stud portion 37 of the connector member 36 is of a diameter to be received in the passage 23 with a snug sliding fit, while at the same time the vertically disposed forward planar end surfaces of the flanges 33 are engaged with the vertically disposed planar surface 43 of the bowl base extending laterally at diametrically opposite sides of the outer end of the passage 23 in substantially corresponding manner to the engagement of the forward end surfaces of the flanges 20 with the bases of notches 24 in the first embodiment with the forward end portion of the upper cylindrical surface of the stem received in the recess 44 and with the forward end portions of the upper surfaces of the upper flanges 33 in engagement with the shoulder 42 at each side of the recess. The projecting stud member is of a length to project into the well 17 of the bowl base sufiiciently to permit its being flared outwardly at 45 by insertion of a suitable swaging or flaring tool therein, and whereby the stem is rigidly secured to the bowl base. By virtue of the engagement of the vertical end surfaces of the stem and its flanges 33 with the vertical planar surface 43 and the recessed horizontal shoulder 42 of the bowl base, the assembled parts are firmly buttressed against loosening or distortion through twisting or bending strains imparted between the bowl base and the stem, as well as against relative axial rotation of the stern.

What is claimed is:

1. A smoking pipe comprising: 7

a vertically extending bowl part including an annular wall defining at its inner periphery a well space, there being a horizontal passage extending radially through the lower portion of said wall opening at its forward end to said well space and at its rearward end to the outer periphery of said wall;

a horizontally extending tubular stem including a horizontal tubular shank portion at its forward end engaged and secured in said passage;

vertical planar abutment surfaces carried by said wall extending laterally from opposite sides of the rearward end of said passage;

vertical planar abutment surfaces carried by said stem extending laterally from opposite sides of said stem engaged wit-h said vertical abutment surfaces of said wall;

said vertical abutment surfaces of said wall and said stem defining a vertical plane normal to the axis of said stem and rearwardly spaced from the forward end of said shank portion of said stem;

horizontal planar abutment surfaces carried by said wall extending laterally from opposite sides of the rearward end of said passage; and

horizontal planar abutment surfaces carried by said stern extending laterally from opposite sides of said stem engaged with said horizontal abutment surfaces of said wall;

said horizontal abutment surfaces of said wall and said stem defining a plane parallel with and spaced from the axis of said stern; and wherein said vertical and horizontal surfaces of said wall are comprised by a pair of notches substantially aligned with the horizontal diametric plane of said radial passage and respectively extending laterally at opposite sides of the rearward end of said passage thereof, and said tubular stem includes a pair of horizontal flanges extending laterally at opposite sides and respectively engaged at their forward end portions adjacent said shank part in said notches.

2. A smoking pipe as defined in claim 1, wherein said notches are each defined by a vertical planar base wall and vertically spaced horizontal planar side walls, and wherein said flanges have vertical planar forward end surfaces adjacent said shank part normal to the axis of said stem for respective engagement with said base walls of said notches and horizontal planar upper and lower surfaces for engagement with said side walls of said notches.

3. A smoking pipe as defined in claim 1, wherein the forward and rearward ends of said flanges of said stem terminate in rearwardly and forwardly spaced relation to the forward and rearward ends of said stem to provide said shank portion at its forward end and a tubular plug portion at its rearward end, and further characterized by a tubular ferrule engaged upon said plug portion with the rearward portion of said plug portion projecting rearwardly therefrom, said ferrule having notch means in its forward end engaged by the rearward end portions of said flanges to restrain relative rotation of said ferrule upon said plug portion of said stern, and a bit removably engaged upon the rearward portion of said plug portion.

4. A smoking pipe as defined in claim 3, wherein said notch means of said ferrule are in clamped engagement with said flanges to fix said ferrule upon said stem.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 142,760 10/ 1945 Wyse.

193,696 7/1877 Dummer 131225 X 327,920 10/ 1885 Chadsey 131-225 X 576,923 2/ 1897 Vetterman 131214 X 738,503 9/1903 Waters. 767,801 8/1904 Disch 131225 X 1,809,529 6/1931 Pettibone. 2,102,017 12/1937 McWane 131-225 X 3,079,927 3/1963 Fassbender 131194 SAMUEL KOREN, Primary Examiner.

JOSEPH S. REICH, Examiner. 

